# 1943 in Canadian football

The Winnipeg RCAF Bombers faced the Hamilton Flying Wildcats in the Grey Cup. Hamilton proved to be the better team, returning the coveted trophy to Steeltown for the first time since 1932.

## Canadian Football News in 1943

The WIFU and the IRFU suspended operations for the duration of World War II.

## Regular season
### Final regular season standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points
Western Interprovincial Football Union
* NO LEAGUE PLAY
Interprovincial Rugby Football Union
* NO LEAGUE PLAY
Ontario Rugby Football Union :
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts |
| Hamilton Flying Wildcats | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 223 | 71 | 17 |
| Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 148 | 74 | 16 |
| Toronto RCAF Hurricanes | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 133 | 67 | 15 |
| Ottawa Combines | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 68 | 129 | 4 |
| Toronto HMCS York Bulldogs | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 73 | 160 | 4 |
| Toronto Indians | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 36 | 180 | 2 |
Quebec Rugby Football Union :
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts |
| Lachine RCAF | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 161 | 59 | 20 |
| Verdun Grads | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 90 | 54 | 18 |
| St. Hyacinthe-Donnacona Navy | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 61 | 43 | 16 |
| McGill* | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 20 | 6 |
| Huntington Army | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 30 | 163 | 0 |
Western Canada Armed Services Rugby Football Union :
| Team | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts |
| Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 37 | 12 |
| Regina All-Services Roughriders | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 96 | 4 |
| Winnipeg United Services Combines | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 49 | 2 |
* Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.

## Grey Cup playoffs

Note: All dates in 1943

### ORFU Final

Hamilton Flying Wildcats vs Toronto :
| Date | Away | Home |
| November 13 | Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7 | Toronto 2 |

### Eastern Finals

Hamilton Flying Wildcats @ Lachine RCAF :
| Date | Away | Home |
| November 20 | Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7 | Lachine RCAF 6 |

## Playoff Bracket

| Union Finals | Union Finals | Union Finals | Semi & Union Finals | Semi & Union Finals | Semi & Union Finals | Grey Cup Final | Grey Cup Final | Grey Cup Final |
| ORFU | Hamilton Flying Wildcats | 7 | | | | | | |
| ORFU | Toronto Balmy Beach | 2 | | | | | | |
| ORFU | Toronto Balmy Beach | 2 | ORFU | Hamilton Flying Wildcats | 7 | | | |
| EAST | EAST | EAST | ORFU | Hamilton Flying Wildcats | 7 | | | |
| EAST | EAST | EAST | QRFU | Lachine RCAF | 6 | | | |
| QRFU | Lachine RCAF | 14 | QRFU | Lachine RCAF | 6 | | | |
| QRFU | Montreal Navy | 2 | | | | | | |
| QRFU | Montreal Navy | 2 | | | | ORFU | Hamilton Flying Wildcats | 23 |
| | | | | | | WCASFL | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 14 |
| WCASFL | No Game | | | | | | | | WCASFL | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 14 |
| | | | WCASFL | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 1-11 | | | |
| WEST | WEST | WEST | WCASFL | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers | 1-11 | | | |
| WEST | WEST | WEST | WCASFL | Regina All-Service All Stars | 0-0 | | | |
| WCASFL | No Game | | WCASFL | Regina All-Service All Stars | 0-0 | | | |

## Grey Cup Championship

November 27
31st Annual Grey Cup Game: Varsity Stadium - Toronto, Ontario :
| Hamilton Flying Wildcats 23 | Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 14 |
| The Hamilton Flying Wildcats are the 1943 Grey Cup Champions ||||
* Note: Playoff dates are not confirmed, however since the Grey Cup dates are accurate, it is reasonable to assume the above dates are accurate.

## 1943 Western Canada Armed Services Rugby Football League All-Stars

NOTE: During this time most players played both ways, so the All-Star selections do not distinguish between some offensive and defensive positions.
* QB – Lt. Lee Sherman, Winnipeg United Services
* FW – Ches McCance, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
* HB – LAC Ken Charlton, Regina All Services All-Stars
* HB – LAC Johnny Lake, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
* HB – Cpl. Paul Gates, Winnipeg United Services
* E – Cpl. Don Durno, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
* E – AC2 Cliff McFayden, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
* C – Lt. Mel Wilson, Winnipeg United Services
* G – Les Lear, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers
* G – Bill Ceretti, Winnipeg United Services
* T – Lou Mogol, Winnipeg United Services
* T – Cpl. Rube Ludwig, Winnipeg RCAF Bombers

## 1943 Ontario Rugby Football Union All-Stars

NOTE: During this time most players played both ways, so the All-Star selections do not distinguish between some offensive and defensive positions.
* QB – Annis Stukus, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
* FW – Sam Sward, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
* HB – Joe Krol, Hamilton Flying Wildcats
* HB – OS Royal Copeland, Toronto HMCS York Bulldogs
* DB – Sgt. Fred Kijek, Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
* E – Jack Buckmaster, Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
* E – Jimmy Simpson, Hamilton Flying Wildcats
* C – Bob Cosgrove, Toronto RCAF Hurricanes
* G – Ed Remegis, Hamilton Flying Wildcats
* G – George Fraser, Ottawa Combines
* T – Harry Sonshine, Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers
* T – none

## 1943 Canadian Football Awards

* Frank Lennard Memorial Trophy - Edward Remigis as Wildcats team MVP
* Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (IRFU MVP) – no award given due to World War II
* Imperial Oil Trophy (ORFU MVP) - Bob Cosgrove - Toronto RCAF Hurricanes